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<br />City Council 2007-08-22, 8:35 p.m. <br />Minutes of Work Session <br /> <br />Present were Mayor Capra, Council members Tom Lee, Linda Broussard-Vickers, Jeff <br />Paar, and Michelle Lakso. Also present was Finance Director, John Meyer. <br /> <br />The Council reviewed the proposed budget for 2008. John Meyer had lowered the levy <br />slightly in order that the tax rate would be at or below the current year. The proposed <br />budget would result in a levy increase of about 4.5%. <br /> <br />Considerable discussion ensued on the issue of whether the city could save money by <br />hiring a staff engineer. <br /> <br />The Council reviewed a report of sidewalk inspections provided by Paul Palzer. It was <br />noted that there are 48 hazard panels on the public sidewalks and that a total of 275 <br />cracked panels with varying degrees of concern. If all of the cracked panels were <br />replaced and curb ramps were corrected to code in these areas the cost would be about <br />$65,000. The Council discussed ideas about how to pay for the work, but the council <br />seemed to have a consensus that the city should pay for the repair and not assess the cost <br />to adjoining property owners. Staff will rework the list to keep the total cost below <br />$50,000 and bring back a proposal for work to be done this year. <br /> <br />The Council reviewed the list of goals adopted this year. Good progress is being made on <br />most of the goals. The Council determined because of all of the major investments that <br />are being made this year, that any work with regard to city hall expansion or alternatives <br />should be deferred to 2008 or 2009. <br /> <br />The Council spent some time discussing the community signs and suggested that staff <br />explore some alternatives using the sign template adopted for the parks. <br /> <br />The council discussed the Rehbein dirt operation which exists in the industrial area and <br />what could be done to bring this property into compliance with zoning regulations. Staff <br />will work to get a commitment from the property owner to put a specific time line on <br />concluding the operation. <br /> <br />The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:25 p.m. <br /> <br />Dallas Larson, Administrator <br />